Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has sworn in new and returning members of the Kenyatta University Council, promising firm government support as universities push through ongoing reforms.
Speaking at the event on Tuesday, Ogamba said university councils hold the key to good governance.
“Governance starts with the councils. The government is fully behind them so they can carry out their work without fear or favor,” he said.
The CS pointed to progress in stabilising public universities.
He revealed that the number of institutions struggling with insolvency has dropped from 23 to 14 since the current administration took office.
The target, he added, is full financial sustainability for all 43 public universities within the next two to three years.
He noted that reforms such as the new student-centred funding model and a 15%–40% cut in program fees have eased pressure on learners and boosted fee compliance.
“At Kenyatta University, more than 9,500 of the 10,480 newly admitted students have already paid their fees. Meru and Machakos universities have also reported encouraging compliance rates,” Ogamba said. He assured students that none would miss out on studies for lack of fees, stressing that government would cover any gaps.
Ogamba also announced that a national conference will be held in Mombasa next week to align higher education programs with market-driven job skills.
On basic education, he disclosed that a nationwide verification of student and school data is underway after queries from the Auditor General. Over 15,000 schools have already been verified.
“This will help us plan better and avoid the past challenges of delayed or insufficient capitation. Once complete, we will have reliable data for effective decision-making,” he said.
Kenyatta University Council Chairman Dr. Ben Chumo welcomed the appointees, noting KU’s central role in Kenya’s education system, with nearly 50,000 students enrolled.
The move is seen as part of government’s wider effort to entrench good governance and sustainability in higher education.
